4. Score Goals

Alex Ovechkin is known as a goal scorer. And that, before anything else, made Ovechkin a superstar.

But he is no longer as prolific of a goal scorer as he once was.

From 2007-08 through 2009-10, Ovechkin led the NHL in goals per game (Hockey Reference). In that time span, Ovechkin's goals per game average never fell below 0.69.

But over the next two seasons, Ovechkin's goals per game average never even reached 0.50. As a result, his star began to fade.

To help restore his superstar status, Ovechkin should raise his goals per game average in the 2013 NHL season to at least 0.60. That would equate to 29 goals in a 48-game season (or 49 goals in a 82-game season). That would be a goal output worthy of a superstar.

2. Regular-Season Success

(Mitchell Layton)

During the 2009-10 season, the Washington Capitals won the first President's Trophy in franchise history. That Capitals team became the first non-Original Six team in NHL history to finish the regular season with more than 120 points.

Alex Ovechkin was a prominent member of that team even before he was named captain during that season. And so he was constantly in the minds of NHL fans across the league.

But the Washington Capitals have not repeated that success. In fact, they barely made the playoffs during the 2011-12 season, qualifying as the seventh seed. That was Washington's worst playoff seed since 2007-08.

If Alex Ovechkin wants to be considered a superstar again, he must lead the Capitals' return to prominence in the standings.

1. Postseason Success

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The biggest key to Alex Ovechkin regaining his superstar status is winning in the playoffs.

And by winning, I mean winning the Stanley Cup.

This is the main reason that Sidney Crosby has become and remains a bigger superstar than Alex Ovechkin. Crosby has now appeared in two Stanley Cup Finals—winning the Cup once—while Alex Ovechkin has appeared in zero.